Author: Skip Moen, Ph.D.

  • Victimizing God

    “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.” Hosea 6:4 NIV What – Victim: a person harmed, injured or killed as a result of a crime, accident or other event; a person who is duped or…

  • Prayer Language

    “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” Matthew 6:5 NASB Pray – You can’t speak Italian like…

  • When Is Enough?

    My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your glory all day long. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. Psalm 71:8-9 NASB Not forsake – Hebrew poetry puts words in order of importance, not English syntax. Our translations rearrange the words…

  • In the Shadows

    Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the grasp of the wrongdoer and ruthless man, Psalm 71:4 NASB Rescue me – Rescue is a very practical experience. It isn’t to be found in the next world. There is little point in waiting to die so that you can…

  • Stand By Me (5)

    Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1 NASB Compassion – Sympathy comes last. Oiktirmoi is the Greek term for “sympathy.” Translating it “compassion” might be stylistically acceptable, but it obscures the fact…

  • Stand By Me (4)

    Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1 NASB Affection – Apparently Paul got it backwards. We would have expected the next word, translated “compassion,” to be this word, splanchnon. Or maybe Paul…

  • Stand by Me (3)

    Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1 NASB Fellowship – Ah, the “church” word. No, it’s not ekklesia (which should be translated “assembly,” not “church”). It’s koinonia, the word that means “in…